Not only did it fly in the face of an agreement between the two club to help each other out wherever possible – which El Confidencial claims has been in place since Luka Modric’s transfer – it also contradicted what Levy was told when he was scouting potential part-exchange candidates as part of Gareth Bale’s transfer to the Bernabeu.

At that stage, he was told the Germany international was not for sale and would not be allowed to leave.

Perez took Levy’s deadline day call, but politely told him that the deal to sell Ozil was nearing completion.

But Sky Sports News claimed that Levy was successful in preventing Real selling a player to the Gunners ahead of last weekend’s north London derby.

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